Job Growth Falters Badly, Clouding Hope for Recovery — The United States economy added a meager 18,000 jobs in June, up from a gain of a revised 25,000 jobs in May, the Department of Labor said on Friday. The unemployment rate rose to 9.2 percent from 9.1 percent in May, the department said.

Jobs Picture Gets Even Worse as Rate Swells to 9.2% — U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in June, with employers hiring the fewest number of workers in nine months, dampening hopes the economy was on the cusp of regaining momentum after stumbling in recent months.

Top Obama adviser says unemployment won't be key in 2012 — President Obama's senior political adviser David Plouffe said Wednesday that people won't vote in 2012 based on the unemployment rate. — Plouffe should probably hope that's the case, since dismal job figures aren't expected …

U.S. Payrolls Rise 18,000; Jobless Rate Climbs to 9.2% — U.S. employers added 18,000 workers in June, the fewest in nine months, and the unemployment rate unexpectedly climbed, indicating a struggling labor market. — The increase in payrolls followed a 25,000 gain that was less than half …

The Employment Situation in June — Today's employment report shows that private sector payrolls increased by 57,000 in June and the unemployment rate ticked up to 9.2 percent. While the private sector has added 2.2 million jobs over the past 16 months, this month's report reflects …

BREAKING: Bachmann pledges to ban pornography — Tonight, Michele Bachmann became the first presidential candidate to sign a pledge created by THE FAMiLY LEADER, an influential social-conservative group in Iowa. By signing the pledge Bachmann “vows” to “uphold the institution of marriage …

Will Republican Race's First In Be the First Out? — AMES, Iowa — Tim Pawlenty was first in line to enter the Republican presidential race. He is now fighting to avoid becoming the earliest major candidate to be shown the door. — No contender for the Republican nomination has followed …

Negotiating on a Knife's Edge — Every fresh report of “progress” on the debt-ceiling talks produces new reasons to feel profoundly uneasy. The talks were misbegotten from the beginning, made necessary only by the irresponsible refusal of Republicans to pay the nation's bills unless …

What Obama Wants — On Thursday, President Obama met with Republicans to discuss a debt deal. We don't know exactly what was proposed, but news reports before the meeting suggested that Mr. Obama is offering huge spending cuts, possibly including cuts to Social Security and an end …

It's not too late to change priorities — In a statement this morning, Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus blamed rising unemployment on “out-of-control spending.” — Perhaps now would be a good time for reasonable political observers to call this what it is: dangerously stupid.

The Last Space Shuttle Launches Safely Into Orbit — CAPE CANAVERAL — The last mission in NASA's decades-long space shuttle program is now underway. — Atlantis rocketed into orbit today at 11:29 a.m. EDT and is flying at 17,500 mph around the Earth. The mission, STS-135 …

Falling Wages — Ugh. That was a seriously ugly jobs report (pdf). Almost no job creation, with slow private-sector growth offset by falling public-sector employment; a falling employment-population ratio; and (I don't know how many people have picked this up), an actual decline in wages, albeit a small one.

Remarks by the President on the Monthly Jobs Report — THE PRESIDENT: Good morning, everybody. Obviously, over the last couple of days, the debate here in Washington has been dominated by issues of debt limit, but what matters most to Americans, and what matters most to me as President …

Mexican Citizen Is Executed as Justices Refuse to Step In — WASHINGTON — In a 5-to-4 decision that split along ideological lines, the Supreme Court on Thursday evening rebuffed a request from the Obama administration that it stay the execution of a Mexican citizen on death row in Texas.

It's a Trap! — I've seen several claims in the past 24 hours that “prove” that Attorney General Eric Holder, or Congress, or the President, or the Pope, knew about Gunwalker/Fast and Furious because of a speech someone made, or because of legislation being proposed or because of a line item in the Stimulus bill.

Obama To Unveil Gun Control Reforms In Near Future … WASHINGTON — Half a year after the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), the Obama administration is set to release a series of reforms to the current gun law, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on Thursday.

Jon Huntsman picks Bush official as policy chief — Jon Huntsman has tapped a former George W. Bush environmental official as his presidential campaign's top policy director. — Mark McIntosh will split his time between Huntsman's Orlando headquarters and the GOP policy world …

Boehner Sees Little Chance of Quick Deficit Deal — WASHINGTON — The Speaker of the House, John A. Boehner, said on Friday that no budget deal with President Obama and Congressional Democrats was imminent, while Mr. Obama also acknowledged “real differences” as the leaders prepared for a weekend of further talks.

Why ‘Obamacare’ May Live — The once-fervent Republican effort to repeal Obama's signature legislation is running out of gas. Jill Lawrence on why the GOP's top target may survive intact. — What happened to the health-care frenzy that turned town-hall meetings into fiery …

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